Display holder device



, May 12, 1936. c. w. KREss 2,040,315

DISPLAY HOLDER DEVICE Filed May 22, 1935 4, 93 5. 3 6 INVENTOR.

/ ,6) ATTORNEY.

Patented May 12, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,040,315 DISPLAY HOLDER DEVICE Claude W. Kress, New York, N. Y. Application May 22, 1935, Serial No. 22,683 4 Claims. (01. 211-50) My invention relates to display devices or holders and refers particularly to relatively small frame-like racks or receptacles adapted to hold and display flat articles, such as postal cards,

picture cards, sentiment cards, greeting cards, folders, brochures, books, boxes, and other more or less similar articles.

Among the more general objects of my invention are to provide an improved device of this character which is attractive, effective, practical, economical, simple, convenient, adjustable, light, sturdy and durable. These and other objects and advantages will be clearly evident later.

In carrying out my invention, a substantially T-shaped central element is provided. A front shelf is fixedly carried by the lower end portion of the T-stem, this shelf having an upturned front flange. The cross bar of the T-stem forms side arms. v

An extension arm is slidably adjustable along each of the side arms. These extension arms have outer forwardly turned portions which are turned inwardly toward each other at the front. The stem of the T-element is vertically adjustable along a vertical supporting bar or upright. Means are provided on the device for fixing it in vertically adjusted position on this upright bar.

My invention also includes various features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be evident from the following description and appended claims, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, illustrating one form of my invention, and in which similar parts are designated by similar numerals.

Figure l is a full size front perspective view of one form of the device of my invention, shown as mounted upon an upright supporting bar.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the stepped line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a broken rear elevation of the device, shown as adjusted to a narrower width than in Figure 1.

a Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the left portion of Figure 4, but adjusted for'width similarly to Figure 1.

The particular device of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing is constructed of suitable sheet metal, is adapted to be securely mounted upon a suitable vertical supporting bar along which it is, vertically adjustable, and forms an upwardly open receptacle of suitable depth andwhich is adjustable as to its width.

The vertical supporting baror upright, an

intermediate broken portion of which is shown in the drawing, in full lines in Figure 1 and in dot-and-dash lines in Figures 2 and 3, is shown as an I-bar, having a web I, front flanges ll-l l, and rear flanges I2--l2. An upright of 5 a different shape could be employed, for example, a T-bar.

A vertical stem 13 has similar lateral flanges l4-l4 which turn rearwardly and inwardly toward each other. The rear.face of the stem I3 10 flatly engages with the front face of the upright, with the bent flanges 14- of this stem in engagement with the edges and rear faces of the front flanges, Il-ll of the upright bar. The stem l3 has a sliding flt on the upright, pro 15 viding for its vertical adjustment, together with all elements and parts carried by this stem l3, as will be described later.

A horizontal plate l5 extends forwardly from the lower end portion of the stem I3 and is ex- 2 tended laterally so as to form a shelf or receptacle bottom. This bottom plate l5 has an upturned front flange l6 shown as extendin throughout its length.

This bottom plate 15 is shown as formed in 25 one piece with the stem 13, being bent forwardly therefrom, but could be a separate piece, for example, it could then overlie a similarly forwardly bent extension or foot on the stem l3 and be suitably fixedly secured thereto. 30

A rivet ll forms a vertical pivot for an eccentrically shaped clamping cam l8, shown as a suitable thick and strong plate, beneath and secured to the rear portion of the bottom plate l5 by the pivot rivet l1 and having a peripheral cam edge 35 closely adjacent to and adapted to grip the front face of the vertical supporting bar formed by its front flanges |l-ll. A handle portion l9 extends from the cam plate l8 and is bent downwardly for convenient operation. 40

The upper end portion of the stem l3 fixedly carries a cross bar 20 forming similar oppositely extended horizontal side arms 2l-2l. The stem l3 together with its rigid arms 2 l-2I thus forms a central T-shaped element. The cross bar 20 45 is shown as extending across the front face of the stem l3 and at 22-22 is indicated as being secured thereto by means of spot welds. It is evident that the cross bar 20 with its extended arms 2 I2I could be made in one piece with the 0 stem l3, for example, by merely makinga break in the stem flanges M-ll.

The outer ends of the arms 2 I --2l are provided respectively with rearwardly projecting stop lugs 23-23, for a purpose to be described later. 55

The side arms 21-21 respectively carry similar horizontal extension arms 24-24 which are adapted to extend beyond the ends of the side arms 2l-2l and which are longitudinally slidable thereon for adjustment. The inner end portions of the extension arms 24-24 are shown as overlapping the outer end portions of the side arms 2l-2I at the front of the latter.

These overlapped end portions of the extension arms 24-24 respectively have upper and lower similar rearwardly turned flanges 25-25 which turn toward each other and have slidable engagement with the upper and lower edges and rear faces of the respective side arms 2l-2l of the stem l3. 'The flanges 25-25 are of suflicient length laterally along the extension arms 24-24 to provide for their free sliding movement without binding and also for rigidly supporting the outer end portions of these extension arms against sagging, or other displacement.

The extension arms 24-24 extend inwardly toward each other beyond their flanges 25-25 in the form of resilient tongues 26-26 which are slightly bent rearwardly for frictional sliding and holding engagement with the front faces of the side arms 2l-2l, as shown in Figures 1 and 5. These spring tongues 28-28 draw the adjacent end portions of the flanges 25-25 into frictional engagement with the rear faces of the arms 2 i-2l and thus have a tendency to press the more remote rear face portions of the extension arms 24-24 frictionally against the front faces of the arms 2l-2l.

In adjusting the extension arms 24-24 inwardly toward each other, their sliding movement will be stopped by the inner ends of their flanges 25-25 abutting against the flanges l4-l4 of the stem i3, so that thus neither of these extension arms can slide beyond the stem I 3.

In adjusting the extensionarms 24-24 outwardly away from each other, their movement will be stopped by the outer ends of their flanges 25-25 abutting against the stop lugs 23-23 of the extended side arms 2i-2i. Thus the stop lugs 23-23 retain the extension arms 24-24 upon the side arms 2l-2l, for limited horizontal sliding movement, inwardly or outwardly, toward or away from the central stem 13, independently of each other.

Similar forwardly turned outer members 21-21 respectively carried by the extension arms 24-24 form retainers or guards at the opposite sides of the receptacle. Similar front retainers or guards 28-28 turn inwardly toward each other from the lateral retainers 28-28. These latter members 28-28 and the upstanding flange IS on the bottom plate l are disposed in the same vertical plane. The two extension arms 24-24 are of duplicate construction and each is shown as having its guard members formed in one piece therewith.

It will now be evident that the stem l3, bottom plate l5, its front flange l6, arms 2I-2l, extension arms 24-24, side retainers 21-21, and front retainers 28-28, all combine to form a receptacle of desired depth, open at the top, of variable width, and which as a whole is vertically adjustable by means of the clamping cam l8.

A label or ticket carrier in the form of a small backing plate 29, having similar upper and lower flanges 30-30 turned forwardly and toward each other and a single similar end stop flange 3|, extends transversely along the front face of the bottom plate front flange It to which it is fixedly secured, for example, indicated at 32-82.

This ticket carrier is thus disposed at a place where the ticket held therein cannot escape being seen. Such ticket may be a. usual card bearing desired information, such as identification of articles, price, and/or other indioia.

The operation of the above described article holding and displaying device of my invention .is as follows:-

Articles of a kind adapted to be held and displayed by the disclosed device, for example, such as aforementioned, are simply dropped into the receptacle from the top. Such articles will then rest upon the bottom plate I5.

These articles are there prevented from escaping rearwardly by the stem I3, or forwardly by the upstanding bottom plate flange 16. They are restrained against lateral escape by the side members 21-21, the space between which can be easily varied, to hold in place articles of different lateral or horizontal dimensions. The contained articles will be prevented from falling forwardly by the front retainers 28-28, while at the back the articles are held up by the arms 2l-2i and their adjustable extensions 24-24.

Contained articles may be readily removed from the receptacle by simply lifting them out from the top.

With the extension arms 24-24 adjusted substantially as shown in Figure l, the device is adapted to hold and display postal cards, or other articles of similar size and shape, upon their longer edges. If desired to display such articles as resting upon their ends, then it is only necessary to push the extension arms 24-24 sumciently closer together, somewhat more so than shown in Figure 4.

In any case, the adjustment of the extension arms 24-24 will be dependably frictionally maintained by the spring tongues 26-28.

In Figures 2 and 3 the clamping cam i8 is shown as in frictional locking engagement with the front face formed by the front flanges l l-i I of the vertical supporting bar. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the receptacle-forming device is thus securely supported and locked in position. By means of the cam l8, it can be easily and quickly moved upwardly or downwardly and maintained at a desired elevation.

It is evident that a plurality or series of the devices of my invention may be similarly mounted in any desired spaced relation one above another upon a single vertical supporting bar. Also that a plurality of such in a single structure to form a grill adapted to carry a plurality of the devices of my invention arranged upon the vertical bars to form a field of these devices.

The device of my invention has marked utility in retail stores, especially department stores, for attractively displaying articles to be sold, and has been thus successfully put into use. well adapted to display advertising or other matter at any place desired, for free distribution. For example, time table folders, programmes, and booklets for disseminating any worthy and useful information.

It will now be evident that the device of my invention has many valuable attributes not possessed by other devices of this class in general.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the construction shown in the drawing and above particularly descri within the by means of spot welds as vertical bars may be disposed Alsoitis' principle and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims. I

I do not limit myself specifically as to size, shape, proportions, materials, number of parts. relationship of elements, nor minor features and details, as illustrated and described and which could be varied, these being given simply as a means for clearly describing the device of my invention.

What I claim is:-

1. In a display device, in combination, a stem having lateral flanges turned rearwardly and inwardly toward each other and adapted to have vertically sliding engagement with a vertical supporting bar, a horizontal bottom plate fixedly carried by and extending forwardly from the lower end portion of said stem, a vertical pivot carried by said bottom plate, and a rotatable clamping cam carried by said pivot beneath said bottom plate and having a peripheral cam surface engageable with the front face of said vertical bar for frictionally locking said device at different positions of vertical adjustment along said bar.

2. In a display device, in combination, a vertical stem, a horizontal bottom plate flxedly carried by and extending forwardly from the lower end portion of said stem and having an upstanding -front flange, similar oppositely extended horizontal side arms fixedly carried by the upper end portion of said stem, smilar horizontal extension arms carried by and slidable longitudinally upon said side arms, similar forwardly extended outer guard members fixedly carried respectively by the outer portions of said extension arms,

similar front retaining members fixedly carried respectively by and extending inwardly toward each other from the forward portions of said outer guard members, said extension arms being respectively overlapped upon and having upper and lower flanges turned over said side arms toward each other, stop lugs carried respectively by the outer end portions of said side arms in position to be abutted by said extension arm flanges, and spring tongues respectively carried by said extension arms and adapted to have frictional engagement with said side arms.

3. In a display device, in combination, a vertical stem, a horizontal bottom plate fixedly carried by and extending forwardly from the lower end portion of said stem and having an upstanding front flange, similar oppositely extended horizontal side arms fixedly carried by the upper end portion of said stem, similar horizontal extension arms carried by and slidable longitudinally upon said side arms, similar forwardly extended outer guard members fixedly carried respectively by the outer portions of said extension arms, similar front retaining members fixedly carried respectively by and extending inwardly toward each other from the forward portions of said outer guard members, said stem having lateral flanges turned rearwardly and inwardly toward each other and adapted to have vertically sliding engagement with a vertical supporting bar, a vertical pivot carried by said bottom plate, and a rotatable clamping cam carried by said pivot beneath said bottom plate and having a peripheral cam surface engageable with the front face of said vertical bar for frictionally locking said device. at different positions of vertical adjustment along said bar.

4. In a display device,in combination, a vertical stem, a horizontal bottom plate fixedly carried by and extending forwardly from the lower end portion of said stem and having an upstanding front flange, similar oppositely extended horizontal side arms fixedly carried by the upper end portion of said ste similar horizontal extension arms carried by and slidable longitudinally upon said side arms, similar forwardly extended outer guard members fixedly carried respectively by the outer portions of said extension arms, similar front retaining members fixedly carried respectively by and extending inwardly toward each other from the forward portions of said outer guard members, said stem having lateral flanges turned rearwardly and inwardly toward each other and adapted to have vertically sliding engagement with a vertical supporting bar, a vertical pivot carried by said bottom plate, a rotatable clamping cam carried by said pivot beneath said bottom plate and having a peripheral cam surface engageable with the front face of said vertical bar for frictionally locking said device at different positions of vertical adjustment along said bar, said extension arms being respectively overlapped upon and having upper and lower flanges turned over said side arms toward each other, stop lugs carried respectively by the outer end portions of said side arms in position to be abutted by said extension arm flanges, and spring tongues respectively carried by said extension arms and adapted to have frictional engagement with said side arms.

CLAUDE W. KRESS. 

